Tag: xavier woods

Cowboys News: How Quinn’s scheme fits, who stays among DBs

In the latest Cowboys news and notes, what to expect from newly signed DC Dan Quinn, and who should Dallas re-sign this year, and more.

The Dallas Cowboys offseason began just two weeks ago, but the club is already moving quickly. This week the team finalized a deal to make former Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn their defensive coordinator, replacing Mike Nolan after just one season. Quinn has been apart of many successful defenses in the past, and he’ll look to improve a Dallas defense that was one of the worst in the league a year ago. Learn more about what schemes Quinn may implement, and how Quinn’s preferences could impact the defensive personnel the Cowboys choose to acquire.

Speaking of the Dallas defense, a number of key contributors are set to become free agents this offseason, especially in the secondary. Who should the Cowboys be most interested in keeping out of the trio of Xavier Woods, Chidobe Awuzie, and Jourdan Lewis? Find out the latest on Jaylon Smith’s recent surgery. Plus a Cowboys history lesson that the average fan hasn’t heard before.

Final Week 17 injury updates as Cowboys travel without 3 coaches

Cowboys latest updates ahead of their Week 17 showdown with the Giants. Covid cases, Coaches not traveling, injury reports, etc.

The Dallas Cowboys are about to play their most important game of the season. On Sunday the team travel to New York to face the Giants, in a game where the loser is automatically eliminated from playoff contention. The winner of the game will turn their focus the Washington-Philadelphia matchup that evening, because if Philadelphia manges to emerge victorious then the winner of the Cowboys-Giants will have secured a spot in the playoffs.

The Cowboys had a number of crucial updates Saturday, including injury designations, three coaches not travelling with the club, and more.

Wednesday Injury Report: Elliott eyes return for Cowboys as Cox, Sweat DNP for Eagles

The Cowboys have a meaningful game in Week 16 as they get set to take on the Eagles. The first injury reports are out as Elliott eyes return.

Believe it or not, Week 16 actually means something for the Dallas Cowboys. The scenario is quite simple. The Cowboys have to win out, the Washington Football Team has to lose out and the Cowboys are NFC East Champions.

In their way is the Philadelphia Eagles who come to town for an afternoon showdown in Week 16 in Arlington. The Cowboys returned to practice Wednesday and much like most weeks with a Sunday game, there is still room for improvements along the way. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (ankle) , defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (ankle), safety Xavier Woods (ribs), cornerback Rashard Robinson (knee) and tight end Blake Bell were the Cowboys not to participate at all in this week’s first practice.

Ezekiel Elliott is eyeing a return to the starting lineup after missing last week’s win as he worked on resistance training with the athletic trainer off to the side as he still deals with some soreness of his calf injury. Optimism surrounds Elliott as he assured reporters that it was looking good be in the starting lineup against the Eagles.

Wide receiver Michael Gallup exited Week 15 early with a hip pointer but it has been reported that he was a full participant in practice today and on track to play Sunday vs. the Eagles.

 

 

Speaking of the Cowboys’ opponent in Week 16, the Eagles come into this week a little hobbled as well.

Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (Neck), punter Cameron Johnston (concussion), tight end Richard Rodgers (ankle), cornerback Kevon Seymour (knee) and defensive end Josh Sweat (wrist) did not practice today. Wide receiver Jalen Reagor and linebacker Duke Riley (bicep) were limited.

Cornerback Darius Slay returned to practice after finally clearing all of the necessary protocols for a concussion. Slay looks to return in Week 16.

Check back with the Cowboys Wire all week long for any updates on the statuses of some key players headed into a very big NFC East showdown.

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Cowboys LB Vander Esch questionable to return, Woods & Woods declared out

The attrition on the defensive side of the ball continues for the Dallas Cowboys.

The attrition on the defensive side of the ball continues for the Dallas Cowboys.

After starting nose tackle Antwaun Woods and safety Xavier Woods suffered injuries on the same second-quarter series, the Cowboys saw linebacker Leighton Vander Esch go down in the third with an apparent ankle injury. He left the field under his own power, but was seen being escorted into the tunnel at AT&T Stadium shortly thereafter.

The team has announced that neither Woods will return to action today. Vander Esch is listed as questionable for the rest of the Week 15 contest.

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Xavier Woods new add to Cowboys’ injury report, McCarthy ‘optimistic’ on other DBs

As Donovan Wilson, Anthony Brown, and Trevon Diggs look set to return to action, starting safety Xavier Woods now has a groin injury.

Three members of the Cowboys’ banged-up secondary look set to make their return to the field this Sunday versus San Francisco. But another defensive back has popped up on the injury report and is a little less of a sure thing, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.

Of safety Donovan Wilson and cornerbacks Anthony Brown and Trevon Diggs, all of whom have missed multiple games, McCarthy expects them to be ready to go for Week 15.

“I would put all three of them in the same category: I’m optimistic they’ll play on Sunday,” McCarthy said during his Friday press conference. “The work has been good so far, they’ve participated in the mock game that we just had. So far, everything looks good.”

Things look a little murkier, perhaps, for safety Xavier Woods. The fourth-year Louisiana Tech product was added to Thursday’s injury report with a groin issue. He was limited in that day’s practice and was seen working off to the side.

As has become the norm, McCarthy placed heavy importance on Saturday’s work session as a determining factor in whether Woods will suit up.

“I think he’ll be good to go on Sunday,” McCarthy told reporters, “but we’ll see what he gets done in practice tomorrow. Just being smart with him.”

This season has been particularly hard on the Dallas defensive backs, with a rash of injuries creating a revolving door among cornerbacks and safeties. As Rob Phillips pointed out on the team’s official website, “Through 13 games, the Cowboys’ top four corners – Chidobe Awuzie, rookie Trevon Diggs, Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis – have yet to be active in the same game together.”

The yearlong secondary shuffle has necessitated the elevation of several practice squad players, too; Saivion Smith and Chris Westry suddenly found themselves on the field this past Sunday against Cincinnati.

Woods has missed just three games out of 61 thus far as a pro. But just because he’s been out there doesn’t mean he’s always been a difference-maker. In a season where many fans and analysts alike have openly criticized the effort and hustle of the Cowboys defense, Woods made himself the poster child for half-hearted play back in early October.

When asked about effort, Woods said, “The effort’s been good. On certain plays, some guys- I mean, me included- there may be a lack. But overall, the effort is there. We’re in the NFL. You don’t expect guys to [go] full speed for 70 plays; that’s not possible.”

According to Pro Football Reference, Woods was allowing the third-highest passer rating before last Sunday’s showdown with the Bengals.

Even still, Dallas would no doubt prefer to have their starter ready to go this week to complement the expected return of Wilson, Brown, and Diggs.

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Why Troy Aikman was spot on with ‘So many things that have to be addressed’ for Cowboys

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman gave an honest critique of his former team on Tuesday night, saying the direction of the organization is unknown.

The 2020 Dallas Cowboys have hit rock bottom. Their 34-17 loss on Tuesday night to the Baltimore Ravens was their second straight and the sixth defeat in their last seven games. Defensively, they gave up nearly 300 yards rushing and the 34 points they yeilded was the seventh time an opponent has reached that mark this season.

Hall of Fame quarterback and Cowboys legend Troy Aikman knows all about struggling under the bright lights of Dallas, Texas. After being the top pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, Aikman lost all 11 of his rookie starts and the team went 1-15. The three-time Super Bowl champion gave a brutally honest assessment of where his former team is going forward while covering the game for FOX.

“I wouldn’t say this is necessarily over, but it’s hard to keep saying that when you’re not winning football games,” Aikman said. “I mean, I don’t know… I just don’t know where this organization… where they go. There are just so many things that have to be addressed this offseason.”

He couldn’t have been more spot on with his critique. The biggest elephant in the room this offseason will be the contract situation of Dak Prescott. He signed a franchise tag that paid him $31.4 million in 2020 back in June, and that number will balloon to around $38 million if another tag is applied in 2021. Both sides have been adamant that they want a long-term marriage. However, with the Cowboys 1-6 record since Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury the organization may be more ready than ever to make that a reality.

The offensive line has been a disaster, to say the least. Perennial All-Pro guard Zack Martin was placed on injured reserve recently with a calf injury. The biggest issue, however, has been at tackle. Tyron Smith and La’el Collins both suffered season-ending injuries. Smith missed three games in each of the previous four seasons and Collins had hip surgery, which can be a tricky ailment to recover from. Looking for a young tackle in the draft could be a focal point.

On defense the Cowboys have been even worse. They currently ranked No. 32 in rushing yards allowed (167.8) and points allowed per game (32.8). Defensive tackle was thought to have been addressed during the last offseason with the additions of Gerald Mcoy and Dontari Poe. Unfortunately, McCoy was waived after rupturing his right quad in August, and Poe was released in October due to underperforming and weight issues according to owner Jerry Jones. Rookie Neville Gallimore has shown a few flashes as well as Antwaun Woods, but the interior defensive line remains an issue to be addressed.

The linebacker situation is an interesting one as well. Veteran Sean Lee will be a free agent in 2021. Leighton Vander Esch missed seven games in 2019 with a neck issue and four this season with a broken collarbone. The Cowboys have a lot of money tied into Jaylon Smith but his play hasn’t lived up to expectations in 2020, and the team could get out of his deal before the 2021 season. This uncertainty makes a player like Penn State’s Micah Parsons one to keep an eye on if the Cowboys keep a top 5 pick in next year’s draft.

The secondary could likely see a major overhaul.

Cornerback’s Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie as well as safety Xavier Woods are all currently in contract seasons, and none have shown much consistently to be a top priority once the offseason hits. Rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs showed flashes of how good he could be before a broken foot in Week 9 put him on the shelf for 4-6 weeks, and he was eventually placed on injured reserve a week later. Another bright spot has been safety Donovan Wilson who finally got his shot to contribute, but a groin injury forced him to miss Week 13. Cornerback and safety should be high on the 2021 priority list in Dallas.

It’s impossible to predict what the Cowboys will look like next season, but they have a plethora of changes to make if they want to be a contender anytime soon.

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Instant Analysis: Ravens 34-17 whooping of Cowboys easily explained

Lamar Jackson and company ran all over the Cowboys defense in Week 13, dropping them to 3-9 on the 2020 season.

The Dallas Cowboys once again fell short in Week 13, losing for the sixth time in their past seven games, 34-17 to the Baltimore Ravens. The game’s vibe was quickly ruined after Baltimore WR Dez Bryant was unexpectedly ruled out due to COVID during pregame warmups, casting an ominous cloud over much of the game.

The subsequent play on the field didn’t do much to dissuade the uneasy feeling Cowboys fans have had in watching the team over the last three-plus months. The loss dropped Dallas to 3-9 at the three-quarter pole of the 2020 season. Baltimore improved to 7-5 and kept their playoff hopes alive for another week.

Winners and Losers: Cowboys fall again, but light goes off

Winners and losers for the Dallas Cowboys game against the Pittsburgh Steelers

Considering the fact the Dallas Cowboys have lost four consecutive games, this is going to be about as rosy a write-up possible. They, of course, ultimately fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19, but for those hoping for a high draft pick, it couldn’t have gone any better.

Keeping games close and finding improvement on a weekly basis while managing to lose in the end is a difficult task. On Sunday afternoon that’s exactly what this team accomplished. For today, there are more winners than losers.

Week 8 Final injury report: Dalton out for Cowboys; Looney, Lee back but no Awuzie

The latest injury report and IR returns for both the Cowboys and the Eagles.

Both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles have battled through numerous injuries to key players so far this season, so it’s only fitting the latest health updates are set to lay a big factor in Sunday night’s showdown in Philadelphia.

As expected, the Cowboys ruled quarterback Andy Dalton out for Sunday’s game, meaning rookie Ben DiNucci will get his first start. Dallas also activated linebacker Sean Lee and offensive lineman Joe Looney from the injured reserve to the active roster, meaning Lee is set to make his season debut Sunday in Philadelphia.

Lee (sports hernia) returns to a linebacker group that has disappointed in 2020. Leighton Vander Esch just recently returned to the roster after missing most of the season so far with a broken collarbone, and Jaylon Smith, despite his high tackle numbers, hasn’t played up to his potential either. Lee’s best days are well behind him, but the savvy veteran should be a an important depth piece as he is still one of the most intelligent and studious players in the whole league.

Looney played both center and guard for Dallas before a knee injury landed him on the short-term IR. The Cowboys offensive line has struggled to find any continuity, and has shuffled numerous times out of necessity. Like Lee, Looney isn’t necessarily a game changer these days, but his experience, both in the NFL and in the Dallas system, should allow him to be a steady and versatile piece on an otherwise unproven offensive line (besides Zack Martin, of course).

Reports were that cornerback Chidobe Awuzie could be ready to travel to Philly, but it looks like the fourth year corner needs just a little more time to heal from his hamstring injury. DB Savion Smith was promoted from the practice squad to the game day roster.

While Dallas still has a number of contributors on the IR, almost all of the active roster was able to practice in full this week.

Quarterback Andy Dalton did not participate in a single pracrice, or clear the NFL’s concussion protocol, and he is out for Sunday’s game. In his place, seventh-round rookie QB Ben DiNucci is set to make his first career start, and there is some reason to be intrigued by DiNucci as a Cowboy fan.

Zack Martin missed late week’s loss to Washington with a concussion, but the perennial All-Pro guard was able to practice in full multiple times this week, and is good to go for the big divisional matchup.

Safety Xavier Woods missed Wednesday’s practice for non-injury related reasons, but was another full participant at practice the following days, and his status is not in question.

Punter Chris Jones was a late addition to the injury report, as an abdomen issue limited him in Friday’s practice. The Cowboys didn’t list Jones with a questionable or game-time decision label, meaning he too should play barring any surprises.

Eagles fans will be thrilled to learn who they have returning from the IR just in time to face the Cowboys.

Three crucial components of the Philadelphia offense, tackle Jason Peters, wide receiver Jalen Reagor, and tight end Dallas Goedert are all set to return to the active roster this week. The team noted that linebacker T.J. Edwards and safety Rudy Ford are being activated from the IR as well.

Linebacker Nathan Gerry and defensive lineman Genard Avery were both moved onto the Philadelphia injured reserve.

As far as the rest of the Eagles squad, there are a handful of impactful injury designations.

T Jack Driscoll, CB Craig James, WR Alshon Jeffrey, CB Cre’von Leblanc, and RB Miles Sanders are all officially out for Week 8.

T Lane Johnson, DE Vinny Curry, DT Malik Jackson, and S K’von Wallace were all listed on the injury report, but all were able to practice in full, and should be suiting up on Sunday.

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Buy or Sell: 8 players Washington should trade for or trade away before NFL’s deadline

There’s reason to believe Washington should be active at the trade deadline, so here are 8 players they should buy or sell before next week.

The 2020 NFL Trade Deadline is fast approaching, and though it is still a little bit less than a week away, we have seen many teams wheeling and dealing thanks in part to the coronavirus pandemic and the protocol in place to have players ready to play as soon as possible.

For the Washington Football Team, there has been some major discussion as to whether or not they should be buyers or sellers at the deadline, largely mirroring their overall strategy for the rest of the season. Is it a year to tank, or rather go after the NFC East division title? Following their dominant win over the hopeless Dallas Cowboys, the latter seems to be a likely option, so I expect them to try and buy more than they sell before the Nov. 3rd deadline. With that being said, there are still a couple of pieces on the roster that they could stand to give up for some future assets. Here are eight players that Washington should either look to trade for, or trade away before the deadline.